Holographic stereogram printing system, holographic stereogram printing method and holographing device

ABSTRACT

A holographic stereogram printing system to print holographic stereograms with good efficiency and no drop in the operating rate of the imaging system and holographic printer. An imaging system control section of an imaging system comprises an operating section that along with controlling the operation of the camera according to the desired selection of the user such as imaging method, image size selection or image layout, also creates an information management file for the base image based on the control information. A holographic stereogram printer prints out a holographic stereogram according to the information management file provided along a transmission path.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a holographic stereogram printingsystem, hologram printing method and an imaging device for printing outholographic stereograms recorded on a hologram recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

A holographic stereogram is made for example by using a plurality ofimages as a base image obtained from an object sequentially capturedfrom different viewing points, and recording these images in sequence inrectangular or dot shaped hologram elements on one hologram recordingmedium.

When for example making a holographic stereogram possessing onlyparallax information in lateral directions, a parallax image row 101 isobtained consisting of a plurality of images having parallax informationin the lateral directions, by sequentially capturing images of an object100 from laterally different viewing points as shown in FIG. 6. Each ofthe images 102 comprising the parallax image row 101 is then recorded insequence as consecutive rectangular hologram elements in the lateraldirection on the recording medium 103. A holographic stereogrampossessing parallax information in the lateral directions is in this wayacquired.

In this holographic stereogram, the plurality of images 102 acquired bycapturing sequential images from laterally different viewing points aresequentially recorded as rectangular hologram elements in the lateraldirection so that when a person views the holographic stereogram withboth eyes, different pieces of two-dimensional information are seenrespectively by the right eye and the left eye. The person perceives aparallax (or visual difference in angle) creating a three-dimensionalimage.

Besides the above, many studies have also been made of three-dimensionaldisplay technology utilizing holographic stereograms. A printer systemfor making holographic stereograms has also been disclosed (A.Shirakura; N. Kihara; S. Baba: “Instant holographic portrait printingsystem”, Proc. SPIE Vol. 3293, p.246-253, Practical Holography XII).

An example of technology applying a holographic stereogram printingsystem to portraits, (A. Shirakura; N. Kihara; S. Baba: “Instantholographic portrait printing system”, Proc. SPIE Vol. 3293, p.246-253,Practical Holography XII) is shown in FIG. 7. In the example shown here,the imaging (photographing) with the imaging system 200 requires 7.5seconds, the hologram printing with the holographic printer 210 requires180 seconds and the subsequent processing requires 10 minutes. Assumingfor instance that this system is operated at an amusement park, with oneholographic printer 210 for the imaging system 200, the operating ratefor the imaging system will of course decline. Also, if for some reasonthe imaging time for the imaging system 200 takes longer than theholographic printing by the holographic printer 210 then the operatingrate of the holographic printer will worsen.

Further, when printing data such as from the Internet by using thissystem, contriving some means to sequentially store and print out manyimage data is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above problems with the related art this invention hasthe object of providing a holographic stereogram printing system andhologram printing method to print holographic stereograms with goodefficiency and without a drop in the operating rate of the imagingsystem and the holographic printer. This invention has the furtherobject of providing an imaging device capable of making print outs ofholographic stereograms on a holographic printer with good efficiency.

In order to achieve the above objects, the holographic stereogramprinting system of this invention comprises a base image provision meansto provide a control information file relating to the base image used inthe hologram and the base image, a transmission path to transmit thebase image and control information file from the base image provisionmeans, and a printing means to make printouts of the holographicstereograms based on the base image according to the control informationfile.

The holographic stereogram printing system of this invention is furthercomprised of a plurality of base image provision means to providecontrol information files relating to the base image and that base imageused in the hologram, a network means for transferring and apportioningthe base image and control information files from the plurality of baseimage provision means, and a plurality of printing means to makeprintouts of the holographic stereograms based on the base imageaccording to the control information file apportioned from the pluralityof base image provision means.

The holographic stereogram printing system of this invention is yetfurther comprised of an image processing means for specified processingon said base image provided from the base image provision means by wayof the transmission path, and the printing means makes printouts of therow of images subjected to the specified processing by the imageprocessing means according to the control information file.

In other words, a system wherein a plurality of camera units or datafrom a network such as the Internet are collected in an imagedistribution means such as a computer, and the collected image dataappropriately assigned to a plurality of holographic printers to printthe holographic stereograms.

Also, ID numbers are assigned to each data by the server computer tomake specifying what image has become what holographic stereogram easy,and embedding these ID numbers in the image of the holographicstereogram proves convenient during actual use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the holographicstereogram printing system according to the first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of the format of the control information file.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are drawings showing the structure of the hologramprinter.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of an adaptation of theholographic stereogram printing system of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the structure of the holographicstereogram printing system according to the second embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram for describing the system of the related artfor making a holographic stereogram.

FIG. 7 is a drawing for describing an example applying the holographicstereogram printing system to portraits.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the invention are next described while referring tothe accompanying drawings. The invention is not limited by the followingexamples and optional changes in the structure may be made withoutdeparting from the scope or substance of the invention.

A holographic stereogram printing system 1 of FIG. 1 is first explained.In this holographic stereogram printing system 1, an imaging system 2 tophotograph (image capture) a hologram base image, and one hologramprinter 4 to make print outs of the holographic stereogram are connectedby a transmission path 3.

The imaging system 2 may for instance be a camera moving in a straightline along an image capture track to capture images of an object or maybe rotating during the image capture and capable of panning, etc. Here,as shown in FIG. 1, a camera 2 b moves along the image capture track 2 awhile fixed to face the target object M, and a base image is acquiredutilizing the imaging system 2 by multiple image capture of the object Mfrom different positions. The imaging system is controlled by theimaging control section 2 c according to user operation, and a controlinformation file created in the imaging system 2 is added to the baseimage. The control information file holds all types of informationrelating to the base image and contains main elements such asidentification numbers. A more detailed description is related later on,however a format consisting of an identification number added toinformation relating to attributes such as the base image and imagecapture conditions when the base image was photographed (image captured)by means of the imaging system 2 is listed.

The transmission path 3 sends the base image and the control informationfile to the hologram printer 4 from the imaging system 2. The hologramprinter 4 makes printouts of the holographic stereogram based on thebase image according to the control information file provided by way ofthe transmission path 3. The look-up table, image brightness and theaspect ratio are optimized based on the image capture (photography)conditions listed in the control information file, and holographicstereogram exposure performed.

The imaging control section 2 c comprises an operating section, andcontrols operation of the camera 2 b according to the selections desiredby the user such as selection of the image capture method, selection ofimage size, and selection of image capture layout. The imaging controlsection 2 c also creates a control information file. A specific exampleof the control information contained in this control information file isexplained while referring to FIG. 2 and the Table 1 described later on.

Control information consists of a 4 byte image data identification ID, a42 byte image capture information, a 33 byte application (APL)information, a 2 byte composite image information, a 130 byte characterinformation, and a 2 byte print count information as shown in FIG. 2.

TABLE 1 FIELD NAME BYTES DATA FORMAT Image data ID 4 B Image capturetime 2 B Image capture distance 4 B Image capture method 1 B Imagecapture angle 2 B Image capture track length 4 B Image capture imagesize 8 B Image capture resolution 8 B Image capture date/time 8 B Imagecapture layout 1 B Image capture source 2 B Image capture shutter speed2 B Application ID 1 B Application file name 32 A Foreground image ID 1B Background image ID 1 B Foreground character code ID 1 B Foregroundcharacter information 64 A Background character code ID 1 B Backgroundcharacter information 1 B Print count 2 B Reserved 43 B

The image data identification ID is for identifying image dataphotographed by the camera 2 b of the imaging system 2 and is usuallyassigned as a serial number.

Image capture information is information relating to conditions of theimaging system 2 when the target object M is photographed (imagecaptured) for example by the camera 2 b. More specifically, as shown inTable 1, the image capture information can consist of the image capturetime, image capture distance, image capture method, image capture angle,image capture track length, image capture image size, image captureresolution, image capture date/time, image capture layout, image capturesource, and image capture shutter speed. Two bytes are assigned to theimage capture time, the first byte indicates a two-digit integer and thesecond byte indicates two digits below the decimal point. For example,0725h signifies image capture (photography) at 7.25 seconds. The imagecapture distance is shown by four byte integers (mm). The image capturemethod signifies an image capture method utilizing the camera 2 b anddistinguishes the image capture into image capture by re-centering,image capture by rotation, image capture by panning, and image captureby straight track, etc. The image capture angle is shown by an integerof two bytes and is the image capture angle versus the target object Mof the camera 2 b. The image capture track length is shown by an integerof four bytes. The image capture size consists of eight bytes, the upperfour bytes indicate the image capture zone horizontal size (mm) and thelower four bytes indicate the image capture zone vertical size (mm). Theimage capture resolution consists of eight bytes, the upper four bytesindicate the horizontal resolution (pixels) and the lower four bytesindicate the vertical resolution (pixels). The image capture date/timeconsists of eight bytes of which one byte is a dummy and the remainderindicates the year, month, day, hours, minutes and seconds. The imagecapture layout consists of one byte and signifies thehorizontal/vertical rotation angle. The image capture source consists oftwo bytes, and for the camera 2 b the upper one byte indicates themanufacturer ID, and the lower one byte indicates the model ID. Theimage capture shutter speed is assigned two bytes.

The application information consists of the application ID and theapplication file name. The user selects the type of image to print outfor the holographic stereogram by using the imaging control section 2 c.The imaging control section 2 c checks whether the user has selected a3-dimensional print, a moving image print, a still image album print ora custom effect print such as a morphing, selects from the various imageprocessing software in the software storage section, loads the softwareinto the RAM and runs it. An ID matching the selected application isprovided as a one-byte application ID. The application file name isexpressed within 32 characters in ASCII code and is a file namespecified by the application ID for storing the file informationrequired for printing in each application. In the case of a still imageprint, the number of still images to print and the file names for eachstill image are listed within the file specified by the application filename.

Composite image information is information for synthesizing the baseimages captured (photographed) by the imaging system 2. The imagenumbers for synthesizing the foreground or the background of the basicimage data are respectively indicated by one byte.

The character information consists of foreground character code ID andbackground character code ID, and foreground character information andbackground character information. One byte each is assigned to theforeground character code ID and background character code ID, and thelower two bits for example specify character codes such as ASCII, SJISand Unicode, the upper six bits are used to specify the 64 font types.The foreground character information and background characterinformation identified by the character code ID are expressed with 64bytes each and a null character is the terminator character.

Two bytes are assigned to the print count information and show thenumber of print outs of the holographic stereogram by the hologramprinter 4.

The above base image data is appended to the control file informationholding the control information described above, and sent to thehologram printer 4 by way of the transmission path 3. The hologramprinter 4 makes printouts of the holographic stereogram based on thecontrol information file sent along the transmission path 3. Thehologram printer 4 at this time incorporates items such as the printcount, optimized exposure information or the ID No. of the hologram.Optimizing to the exposure information is performed by optimizing thebrightness of the look-up table and image, and the aspect ratio, basedon the image capture conditions listed in the control information file.

Next, the hologram printer 4 is described while referring to FIGS. 3Aand 3B. FIG. 3A is a drawing of the optical system of the hologramprinter 4 as seen from above. FIG. 3B is a drawing of an essentialsection of the optical system of the hologram printer 4 as seen from theside.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the hologram printer 4 comprises a laser lampsource 31 to beam a laser light of a specific wavelength, a half mirror33, and an exposure shutter 32 installed along the optical axis of thelaser light L1 from the laser lamp source 31.

The exposure shutter 32 is shut when light is not exposed on thehologram record medium 30, and is opened when light is exposed on thehologram record medium 30. The half mirror 33 has the job of separatingthe laser light L2 passing through the exposure shutter 32, into thereference light and target object light. The laser light L3 reflectedfrom the half mirror 33 is the reference light, and the light L4permeating through the half mirror 33 is the target object light.

A reference light optical system consisting of a cylindrical lens 34, acollimator lens 35 for making the reference light a parallel beam, and afull reflecting mirror 36 for reflecting the light made into a parallelbeam by the collimator lens 35 are installed in that order, on theoptical axis of the light L3 reflected by the half mirror 33.

The light reflected by the half mirror 33 is first changed intodispersed light by the cylindrical lens 34, and then changed into aparallel light beam by the collimator lens 35. Afterwards the light isreflected by the full reflecting mirror 36 and beamed into the hologramrecording medium 30.

In the drawings of FIGS. 3A and 3B on the other hand, the target objectlight optical system consists of a full reflecting mirror 38 reflectingthe light permeating from the half mirror 33, a special filter 39consisting of a convex lens and pinhole, a collimator lens 40 for makingthe target object light a parallel beam, a display device 41 fordisplaying the image for recording, and a cylindrical lens 42 forfocusing the target object light on the hologram record medium 30 areinstalled in that order along the optical path of the light L4permeating through the half mirror 33.

After the full reflecting mirror 38 has reflected back the light L4 thatpermeated through the half mirror 33, the light from the point lightsource is diffused by the special filter 39. Next, the light is changedinto a parallel beam by the collimator 40 and then beamed into thedisplay device 41. The display device 41 here is a permeable type imagedisplay device consisting for example of a liquid crystal panel, anddisplays images based on image data sent from the imaging system 2. Thelight from the display device 41, after modulated according to the imageshown on the display device 41 is input to the cylindrical lens 42.

The light passing through the display device 41 is condensed laterallyby the cylindrical lens 42, and that condensed light then input as theobject light to the hologram recording medium 30. In other words, in thehologram printer 4, the projected light from the display device 41 isinput to the hologram recording medium 30 as object light of arectangular shape.

The reference light is beamed onto the main surface of the hologramrecording medium 30, and the object light is beamed onto the other mainsurface of the hologram recording medium 30. In other words, along withthe reference light being input at a specified angle to one main surfaceof the hologram recording medium 30, object light is input to the othermain surface with an optical axis approximately perpendicular to thehologram recording medium 30. The reference light and object lighttherefore interfere on the hologram recording medium 30, and theresulting interference bands due to this interference are recorded as arefractive index on the hologram recording medium 30.

A holographic stereogram print device 3 comprises a record medium feeddevice 43 to intermittently feed and acquire the hologram record medium30. Every time one image is recorded as one element image, based on thebase image data, this record medium feed device 43 intermittentlysupplies just one program element, to the hologram record medium 30 setin a specified state in the hologram record medium 30. In this way,images based on the base image data are consecutively recorded aselement images in sequence laterally on the hologram recording medium30.

A light exposed image is displayed on the hologram printer 4, based onthe image data on the display device 41. The hologram record medium 30is exposed to light by releasing (opening) the exposure shutter 32 for aspecified time.

A light is beamed at this time from the laser lamp source 31, and of thelaser light L2 permeating through the exposure shutter 32, a light L3reflected by the half mirror 33 is input to the hologram recordingmedium 30 as the reference light. The light L4 permeating through thehalf mirror 33 is the projection light projecting the image displayed onthe display device 41, the projected light is input to the hologramrecording medium 30 as the object light. The light exposed image shownon the display device 41 is recorded as a rectangular element image onthe hologram recording medium 30.

When the recording of one image onto the hologram recording medium 30 iscomplete, one element program portion is then sent to the hologramrecording medium 30 by means of the record medium feed device 43.

The above described operation is consecutively repeated, changing theexposure images displayed on the display device 41 in the order of thearray of parallax images. In this way, the exposure images aresequentially recorded as rectangular element images on the hologramrecording medium 30 based on the base image data.

The hologram printer 4 here optimizes items such as the image brightnessand internal look-up table, and the aspect ratio by means of theexposure of the holographic stereogram by way of the shutter 32. Thehologram printer 4 then makes a specified number of printouts of theholographic stereogram based on the print count information.

The hologram printer 4 also incorporates the ID No. into the holographicstereogram based on the image data identification ID. If thecharacteristics of the holographic stereogram are utilized, then an IDNo. can be shown for only the holographic stereogram as seen from adesignated angle can be viewed. Further, making just the ID visible isalso possible however an image such as of the person photographed can becombined with the ID No. Also, image processing can be performed so thatdifferent information can be seen according to the viewing position. Byembedding ID Nos. in this way, the image capture data can easily bematched with the printout of the holographic stereogram, making thismethod ideal for making reprints or filing by the customer, etc.

The hologram printer 4 designates the image No. for the foreground orrear view for making a composite with the base image from the imagingsystem 2, according to the composite image information in the controlinformation file, and makes a printout of the image compositeholographic stereogram.

A variation of the holographic stereogram printing system 1 is nextdescribed while referring to FIG. 4. This variation of the holographicstereogram printing system 5 comprises an image processor 6 to performspecified image processing on the base images provided from the imagingsystem 2 by way of the transmission path 3 a. The hologram printer 7receives by way of the transmission path 3 b, the row of imagessubjected to the specified processing in the image processor 6, andmakes holographic stereogram printouts according to the controlinformation file. In this holographic stereogram printing system 5,specified image processing such as keystone distortion correction andviewpoint conversion is performed in the image processor 6. The imageprocessing at this time is performed by the image processor 6 accordingto the control information file. The processing relating to embeddingthe ID Nos. by the hologram printer 4 of the holographic stereogramprinting system 1 as shown in FIG. 1 may also be performed. The abovedescribed image composite (synthesis) processing may also be performed.

Another embodiment of this invention is next described while referringto FIG. 5. This other embodiment is a holographic stereogram printingsystem for making printouts of holographic stereograms from imagesacquired from a plurality of imaging systems and external dataprocessors and printing these holographic stereograms by way of aplurality of hologram printers on a hologram recording media.

In other words, the holographic stereogram printing system 10 comprisesa plurality of imaging systems 11 ₁, 11 ₂ . . . 11 _(n), a plurality ofexternal data receive processors 15 ₁ . . . 15 _(m), a plurality ofhologram printers 18 ₁, 18 ₂ . . . 18 _(X), a hologram printercontroller 19 to control these hologram printers, and an imageprocessing section 20 connected to a network 17.

The imaging system 11 ₁ for example from among the plurality of imagingsystems 11 ₁, 11 ₂ . . . 11 _(n), captures (photographs) an image of thetarget object M₁ by means of the camera 13 moving on the imaging track12 ₁, the same as was shown for the imaging system 2 in FIG. 1, orcaptures imaging in a rotating state or capture images by panning, etc.This imaging system 11 ₁ is controlled by an imaging system controlsection 14 ₁ by user operation, and a control information file generatedby the imaging system control section 14 ₁ is added to the base image.

The control information file generated by the imaging system controlsection 14 ₁, 14 ₂ . . . 14 _(n), is as shown in FIG. 2 and Table 1. Adescription is omitted here.

The external data receive processors 15 ₁ directly input motion picturesand a plurality of still image data from the digital still camera,digital video camera and analog video devices by way of various types ofexternal networks 16.

The external data receive processors 15 _(m) directly input motionpictures and a plurality of still image data from removable media suchas floppy disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs and semiconductor memory cards by way ofvarious types of external networks 16.

The hologram printer 18 ₁ for example from among the plurality ofhologram printers 18 ₁, 18 ₂ . . . 18 _(X), comprises the same structureas shown in FIG. 3. A description is omitted here.

The hologram printer control section 19 operates the plurality ofhologram printers 18 ₁, 18 ₂ . . . 18 _(X). The image processing section20 performs the specified image processing on the various types of datafrom the imaging systems and the external data receive sections. Thehologram printer control section 19 and image processing section 20 arecomprised by a servo computer.

The operation of the holographic stereogram printing system 10 isdescribed next. One imaging system from among the plurality n of imagingsystems and plurality m of external data receive sections, inputs animage. This imaging system exchanges signals with the servocomputer, andwhen the image processing section 20 of the servocomputer is set toreceive images, the imaging system sends the input image to the imageprocessing section 20 of the servocomputer. The imaging system controlsection of the imaging system makes a control information file at thistime, and sends this information control file to the servocomputersimultaneously with the image. Besides the above-mentioned information,this information control file adds additional information necessary foridentifying the image such as the imaging device No. and the serial No.

The imaging system or the external data receive section may alsodetermine the entire contents of control information file, and theinformation control file may also hold the identification No. designatedby the servo computer.

The servocomputer that received the images, searches by means of thehologram printer control section 19 for a hologram printer whose printsetup is complete from among x number of hologram printers and sends thedata to be printed. Of course, if the servo computer settings arechanged, control can be performed for printing out the image being sent,on a specific desired printer.

The hologram printer specified by the hologram printer control section19 of the servocomputer makes a printout of the holographic stereogrambased on the data that was sent. The hologram printer can at this time,incorporate the number of prints, optimized exposure conditions andhologram ID based on the control information file.

Incorporating the ID No. is especially effective in systems having aplurality of imaging systems and printers. The image processing requiredfor incorporating this ID No. can also be performed by image processingon the printer, instead of the image processing section 20 on theservocomputer.

What is claimed is:
 1. A holographic stereogram printing systemcomprising: image provision means for providing an image for hologramand a control information file related to said image used in saidhologram; a transmission path for transmitting said image and saidcontrol information file from said image provision means; and printingmeans for printing out a holographic stereogram made based on said imageaccording to said control information file provided by said imageprovision means via said transmission path, wherein said informationcontrol file comprises a format including an identification number whichis added to information relating to an attribute including an capturecondition for capturing said image for said hologram, wherein saidprinting means optimizes an exposure condition based on said imagecapture condition set forth in said information control file.
 2. Aholographic stereogram printing system according to claim 1, whereinsaid image processing means performs image processing to allowrecognition of an identification number added to said informationcontrol file of said holographic stereogram printed out by said printingmeans when viewed from an angle.
 3. A holographic stereogram printingsystem according to claim 1, wherein a composite is made of the selectedimage in said information control file, and the image from said imageprovision means.
 4. A holographic stereogram printing system comprising:a plurality of image provision means, each image provision means of saidplurality of image provision means providing an image for a hologram anda control information file related to said image for said hologram;network means for sending and allotting said image and said controlinformation file from said plurality of image provision means; aplurality of printing means, each printing means of said plurality ofprinting means printing out a holographic stereogram made based on saidimage according to said control information file provided by saidplurality of image provision means via said network means, wherein saidprinting means optimizes the exposure based on photography conditionsrecorded within said control information file.
 5. A holographicstereogram printing system according to claim 4, wherein said systemfurther comprises: image distribution means for collecting said imagessent from said plurality of said image provision means via said networkmeans, and after performing processing on said images, distributing saidimages via said network means to appropriate printing means from amongsaid plurality of said printing means.
 6. A holographic stereogramprinting system according to claim 5, wherein said image distributionmeans receives said images along with said control information file fromsaid plurality of image provision means, and said images and saidcontrol information file are distributed to said appropriate printingmeans via said network means.
 7. A holographic stereogram printingsystem according to claim 5, wherein said image distribution meansimplements image processing to allow visual recognition of saididentification number added to said control information file when saidholographic stereogram printed out by said printing means is viewed froma designated angle.
 8. A holographic stereogram printing systemaccording to claim 6, wherein said control information file is recordedin a format with an identification number added to information relatingto attributes of images and image capture conditions when said image wasphotographed.
 9. holographic stereogram printing system according toclaim 4, wherein said image designated by said control information fileis made into a composite image with said image from said image provisionmeans.
 10. A holographic stereogram printing system comprising: imageprovision means for providing an image for hologram and a controlinformation file related to said image used in said hologram; atransmission path for transmitting said image and said controlinformation file from said image provision means; and printing means forprinting out a holographic stereogram made based on said image accordingto said control information file provided by said image provision meansvia said transmission path; image processing means for processing saidimage provided from said image provision means via said transmissionpath; wherein said printing means prints out an image train generated bysaid processing performed by said image processing means according tosaid control information file, said information control file comprises aformat including an identification number which is added to informationrelating to an attribute including an capture condition for capturingsaid image for said hologram, said printing means optimizes an exposurecondition based on said image capture condition set forth in saidinformation control file.
 11. A holographic stereogram printing systemcomprising: a plurality of image provision means, each image provisionmeans of said plurality of image provision means providing an image fora hologram and a control information file related to said image for saidhologram; network means for sending and allotting said image and saidcontrol information file from said plurality of image provision means; aplurality of printing means, each printing means of said plurality ofprinting means printing out a holographic stereogram made based on saidimage according to said control information file provided by saidplurality of image provision means via said network means, imagedistribution means for collecting said images sent from said pluralityof said image provision means via said network means, and afterperforming processing on said images, distributing said images via saidnetwork means to appropriate printing means from among said plurality ofsaid printing means, wherein said image distribution means receives saidimages along with said control information file from said plurality ofimage provision means, said images and said control information file aredistributed to said appropriate printing means via said network means,said control information file is recorded in a format with anidentification number added to information relating to attributes ofimages and image capture conditions when said image was photographed,and said printing means optimizes the exposure based on photographyconditions recorded within said control information file.